questions about certain cities

[rchua]

here's the deal. we're traveling to paris, interlaken, and rome. my questions are what to do in these cities:

1) Paris (5 days): when and what time of day should we see the louve and versaille? any other suggestions?

2) Interlaken (3 days): what are there to do here? i know it's great for hiking and stuff. should we do a day trip to berne?

3) Rome (5 days): what are the must see? should we take a day trip to pompiee? how much and how do we do that?

thanks for your help!!

[Jules80]

the louvre... whenever... if its the first sunday of the month by chance, all museums are free. other than that... you must see the SAcre Coeur and wander around montmartre... same goes for notre dame. the latin quarter is wonderful to wander through. musee de cluny is cool. obviously a trip up the eiffel tower is a must.

interlaken... not much to do here... its pretty... go hiking... luzern is a beautiful city for a day trip.

rome where to start... well.... coliseum, roman forum, palatine hill, vatican city, capuccin crypt, piazza navona, piazza del popolo, trevi fountain, the pantheon, apparently the spanish steps are supposed to be cool but they were under construction when i was there and i found them underwhelming. there are many many other things to see as well... which i never got around too in my 5 days..... i did not go to pompei... my understanding is that ita a good 2-3 hour train trip one way... so it would be an awfully long day trip from rome. but i heard of people at the hostel doing it. i would personally stay in rome for the 5 days... there is sooooo much to see in rome itself.

Julie

[Cat]

I think Jules covered all major points of interest for Rome and Paris. I have never been to Interlaken, so can't comment there.

If you have the opportunity: go visit Pompei. I found it stunning, history really comes to life there. We did it as a two-day trip from Naples, then it's only an hour away. We spent the whole day there, slept at he HI hostel in Pompei and travelled back to Naples (ugh! ugly city!) the next day via the isle of Capri. This might be an option for you too, but would cut back on your days in Rome, a city where even two weeks isn't enough.

[Eagle]

If you're going to Interlaken, give some thought on spending a day or two in Gimmelwald. It's a big favourite of many on this Board. You might find a trip to Piz Gloria to be interesting (featured in the James Bond movie "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" - and NO, it didn't blow up!).

Cheers!!!

[babs]

1) The louvre will most likely be busy at all times. Try to be there right when it opens and rush to the most popular works of art (eg Mona Lisa) before the crowds gather. That way, you can see it without having to peer over big-haired people. IMO, Versailles was disapointing. Extremely over-crowded (to the point where I couldn't enjoy myself). But try to get a tour of the palace so that you can get more information than you get by just walking around by yourself.
2) DEFINITELY go to Gimmelwald. It's about 20 km from Interlaken and it's absolutely beautiful. Less touristy than Interlaken and the views are unparalleled. You can do it as a day trip or stay at the mountain hostel.
3) Never been to Rome so can't advise.

[Victor]

Paris: the Musee d' Orsay was amazing, especially if you enjoy impressionist paintings (lots of Monet paintings here). I didn't make it to the Louvre, to my disappointement, so I can't give a very good comparison between the two. In any case, the Musee d' Orsay is right across the river from the Louvre.

[jennifer]

Butting in AGAIN to say, GIMMELWALD Must see

[rchua]

thanks guys!! we'll try to check out gimmelwald and all the other places you guys mentioned. we were thinking about visiting gimmelwald but might be hard if we're only staying in switzerland for 3 days. the itinerary isn't set in stone yet so things might change. thanks again!!!

[me]

in Rome, aside from Vatican's *huge* art colllection, Galleria Borghese includes many special pieces. the Bernini sculptures are wonderful!

[bubbletoes]

i've been to both the lourve and musee d'orsay, and personally i think d'orsay is better worth your time than the lourve, because at the lourve it's so huge you can not feel satisfied with what you've seen, but d'orsay has some fantastic impressionist works. but if your in paris for 2 + days i suggest you do both

[guitar24]

ive been hearing alot of bad things that are happening to americans in europe, i would like to hear from an american that is over there right now, maybe in france witnessing the riots and all of that, i plan on leaving for scotland in june, and working my way to russia. if anybody knows whats going on over there with the muslims please tell me